The Atomic Cafe

Yep, I'm referring to the famous 1982 documentary, which Kino Lorber is providing for free on YouTube: 

Yet another film I haven’t viewed in more than 20 years. The only time was on VHS in college, back when The Cold War had been over with for years and people could chuckle at how silly it all was. Now, in 2024… it plays differently. Then again, once I saw this for a second time, what a surprise to see photos and video footage of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bomb droppings, usually graphic in nature of corpses and radiation poisoning.

That was brief, however; other than that and a minute of testing on animals-an Allison M.-style warning I'll give, the documentary chronologically covers life from the development of Trinity through the entirely of the 1950’s, the creation of the atomic bomb then the subsequent Cold War with the Soviet Union was covered along with life in the United States along with the impact the aforementioned Cold War had on American life. This was presented via stock footage, news reels, military training films and downright propaganda material.

This had a darkly comic tone, mainly due to absurdity and how by even 1982, Americans were far more cynical of their government. I say that and the most haunting segment is seeing a few minutes of a film where an atom bomb is dropped in Nevada and-get this-soldiers are right by it with no protective clothing for the purpose of “a training exercise.” It is sobering to think of their aftermath; otherwise, it is humorous in a perverse fashion viewing how life was in the 50’s… when my parents were both kids. I can only imagine them practicing utterly pointless Duck & Cover drills.

In any event, the 50’s songs about the atomic bomb (usually rockabilly in nature) were an absolute hoot and this was a happy revisit. I haven’t viewed these programs or played these games but this likely will pair well with Oppenheimer and/or the Fallout show/videogames.